60 Thrifty Ways to Help Save the Planet

6OTHRIFTY WAYS + TO HELP SAVE THE PLANET HOUSEHOLD+ PERSONAL Use cloth napkins instead of paper. Replace vinyl shower curtains with PCfree plastic, cloth, or bamboo. Hang laundry on a clothesline. Use energyefficient light bulbs. If every house did this, it would reduce pollution comparable to removing 1 million cars from the road. Use cold water for Make sure your home is properly sealed and insulated. Visit EnergyStar.gov to learn how to do a DIY energy audit. laundry. -- -- Replace dryer sheets with vegetablederived ones or "dryer buddies." Clean your dryer's lint filter before When it's not in use, keep Buy rechargeable batteries and learn how Water your plants in the morning or at night to minimize evaporation. Avoid rinsing dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. your fireplace damper closed. This can reduce every use to reduce drying time. to dispose of old batteries properly. your heating bills. -- Use reusable shopping bags and bring plastic bags to recycling dropoff locations. You can find one at PlasticFilmRecycling.org Cut down on paper junk Replace lighters with mail. There are lots of websites and services that can help you get off of mailing lists. Recycle your Christmas tree. Many towns and cities offer programs that put old trees to good use as mulch or erosion barriers. Choose cotton swabs with paper Start a compost heap. This puts foot scraps and yard waste to good use and cuts down on greenhouse gases released from landfills. paper matches; 1,5 billion plastic lighters end up in landfills annually. sticks instead of plastic. paintcare Borrow books at your Wrap gifts in last year's holiday paper, fabric, newspaper, and other recycled or reusable materials. Try coconut oil for multiple purposes - Keep pollutionfighting planis in your home moisturizing, shaving, and office, like the ficus or pothos. Try metal razors for shaving instead of plastic. local library instead of There is a learning curve, buying them, and buy but it saves money and the planet. Donate leftover paint to community projects or companies like Habitat for Humanity and PaintCare. cooking, makeup removal, etc. or borrow used textbooks for classes. PETS -- Use topical flea treatments instead of flea collars. Many of these collars contain Pick up dog feces: It can spread pathogens into streams vwhen it rains. Use biodegradable bags and dispose of them in the trash, Do not flush cat feces unless you have an indooronly cat that has tested negative for toxoplasmosis – this parasite can affect marine life. Avoid using cat litter with bentonite clay - it is obtained using a highly destructive and inefficient method called stripmining. Adopt, don't shopl Adopting a pet will help reduce the demand for breeding and free up space in animal shelters. Beef production harms the environment in many ways - choose food with different protein carcinogens and do not biodegrade. Sources. PARENTING Choose cloth diapers or environmentally friendly disposable diapers. Choose biodegradable baby wipes, and cut them in half for jobs that do not require a whole one. Cut down on screen time and electricity use by spending more time outside with your kids. Kids grow fast: Buy or borrow gently used equipment and clothing. FOOD + GARDENING - :- Commit to having at least one vegetarian day a week - it takes 2,500 gallons of water to produce a single pound of beef. Replace plastic straws with metal or glass. Bring them to restaurants and decline Buy a reusable takeout container for restaurant leftovers. Use a reusable mug or tumbler at coffee shops that allow it. If old clothing is not good enough to donate, turn it into kitchen cleaning rags or stuff it into pet beds. Buy essentials in bulk to cut down on packaging and driving to the store, and store them in reusable containers. Buy local produce - this cuts down on pollution from transporting goods. plastic straws. * Seafood WATCH Microwave popcorn bags are lined with harmful chemicals (for both you and the planet). Pop the oldfashioned way with a pan and oil. Use castiron pans. They are free of harmful chemicals and can last for Ordering groceries online cuts down on driving and helps you stick to a list, avoiding impulse buys. Download the Seafood Plant Watch app from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to keep track of which fish are plentiful, threatened, or polluted to make better consumption choices. pollinatorfriendly flowers for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Buy shadegrown, organic, Fair Trade, and Equal Exchange coffee to protect environments, animals, and people. generations. TECHNOLOGY - TRANSPORTATION - E-BILL ... .......... Minimize the weight your vehicle is carrying - keep the trunk clutterfree! Turn your computer off overnight. Opt for electronic bank Turn your old cell phone in to a recycling program to keep it out of a landfill and prevent toxic battery leaks. Use the car wash; it tends to be more waterefficient and Кeep your vehicle's tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage. Use the autopowerdown feature on video game consoles so they automatically go into a lowpower sleep mode when not in use. statements and online bills. environmentally safe than washing by hand. -:- EC O SIA Avoid idling your car or truck - it can waste Switch to the "standard" picture mode on your TV to save energy. Flat screens are often displayed brighter than necessary to stand out in retail settings. Obey the law. Aggressive driving (speeding, braking, rapid acceleration) lowers your gas mileage by up to 33%. Take the Search the web with Use power strips so you can switch off power to chargers and appliances you're not using. FootpriniCalculator.org Ecosia.org. They plant quiz to determine your ecological footprint and how you can improve. up to 2 gallon of fuel per hour and pollutes the air. trees with their ad revenue. Sources: 5Owaystohelp.com Ecosia.org Montereybayaquarium.org Footprintcalculator.org EnergyStar.gov Bluefront.org Playground Eqúipment D000